Chapter 84: The Grace of Saving a Life

In the evening, the rain eased slightly.

The Medicine Bath was finished.

Luo Zijun felt refreshed all over, his soreness had vanished, and his spirit felt exceptionally replenished.

The fatigue from cultivation was swept away in an instant.

Although the medicine was expensive, its effectiveness was beyond doubt.

"Master, would you like to go eat together?"

Luo Zijun invited him politely.

Su Dafang rolled his eyes immediately: "They invited you two, they didn't invite me, and besides, I don't even know the Sun Family."

Luo Zijun said: "Master can go to our house to eat; I will cook a bowl of noodles for you. You can squat at our house to eat alone, while we go to the Sun Family to eat with Senior Sister."

"Get lost!"

Su Dafang was suddenly furious.

Luo Zijun went to the doorway to pick up the oil-paper umbrella, turned his head and said: "Master, don't say I didn't invite you."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost! You two unfilial disciples, get lost!"

Su Dafang waved his hand to drive them away.

Luo Zijun opened the umbrella at the doorway and was about to head out when he turned to look at his Senior Sister behind him, who was wearing a plain white dress and looked cold, aloof, and beautiful, and asked: "Senior Sister, where is your umbrella?"

Su Qingling did not speak; she walked to his side with an expressionless face, reached out her slender jade hand, and tilted his umbrella over her own head.

"This... Senior Sister, do you not have an umbrella?"

Luo Zijun felt it seemed a bit inappropriate.

Su Qingling said coldly a classic line: "Your umbrella is my umbrella."

Luo Zijun: "..."

Su Dafang lifted his eyelids, looked at the two of them huddled together, and immediately raged: "It's almost dark! Still dawdling!"

Luo Zijun immediately went out holding the umbrella.

The sky was dim and covered in dark clouds, but fortunately, the rain was no longer as fierce as it had been during the day.

There were very few pedestrians on the road.

The dark bluestone slabs were washed exceptionally clean by the rain.

Bright as a mirror.

Looking down, one could see the reflection of the two figures walking together under one umbrella.

"Senior Sister shouldn't wear a white dress."

Luo Zijun tilted the oil-paper umbrella toward her side, completely covering her tall and slender figure.

Su Qingling, however, said coldly: "Then what color do you like?"

Luo Zijun said: "It's not about what color I like; I mean that on a rainy day like this, if you wear a white dress, it gets dirty quickly."

White dresses show dirt more obviously than other colors, so they appear to get dirty faster.

Su Qingling turned her head to look at him, her beautiful eyes icy: "Does it get dirty as fast as you?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

What do you mean by that, girl?

I am concerned about you; is there anyone who keeps rubbing salt into someone's wounds like you?

Luo Zijun ignored her and tilted the umbrella over his own head.

After walking a few steps, he tilted it back.

Forget it, this girl is just like this; her mouth has always been poisonous.

Don't pay attention to her.

Raindrops pattered, and they remained silent along the way.

Two figures holding an umbrella walked quietly through the drizzling rain.

When they were about to reach Willow Leaf Alley.

Su Qingling spoke again faintly: "Later, you cook a bowl of noodles for me, and I will squat at your house to eat alone."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Senior Sister, tell that to my sister, don't tell me."

He wouldn't fall for it.

If he really did that, his sister would definitely beat him to death.

The two entered the alley.

At this time, night had fallen, and the alley was pitch black.

Luo Zijun noticed that the person beside him had moved closer to him without a sound, almost leaning against his body.

Soft and fragrant.

"Senior Sister, are you afraid of the dark?"

"Not afraid."

"Then why are you leaning so close to me?"

"Isn't it you leaning on me?"

"Look closely, whose body is tilted?"

"Yours."

Luo Zijun couldn't be bothered to argue with her anymore, pushed her away and said: "Walk properly; it won't look good if my sister and brother-in-law see us."

Just as he finished speaking.

Ahead came his sister's voice: "Zijun, what is it that we shouldn't see? It's fine, it's dark, we can't see anything."

As she spoke, with a "creak," the gate closed.

Luo Zijun was speechless, walked forward, and said: "Are we still going to the Sun Family for dinner?"

"Creak..."

The gate opened again.

Luo Jiaorong walked out, glanced at the two of them, and said with a straight face: "Of course we are, what time is it already, you two are still dawdling, only coming back now."

Li Zhengshan carried the gifts, held an umbrella, came out from the gate, and urged: "Let's go, let's go, stop talking, it's already late."

As he spoke, he locked the gate and walked in front.

Xiaohuan held an umbrella over Luo Jiaorong's head.

Luo Jiaorong immediately grabbed Su Qingling's snow-white little hand again, and said with a face full of smiles: "Ling'er, sister was talking about Luo Zijun, not you. Let's go, let's go eat together."

Luo Zijun hurriedly gave her the umbrella in his hand: "Sister, here is an umbrella for you, you two share one, I'll share one with Xiaohuan."

Upon hearing this, Luo Jiaorong immediately stepped back, retreated under Xiaohuan's umbrella, gave him a glare, and said: "You want to be lazy? In your dreams!"

Then she immediately grabbed Xiaohuan's hand and said: "Let's go, we'll go first."

As she spoke, she walked in front.

Luo Zijun had no choice but to continue holding the umbrella and walk behind with his senior sister.

"If I had known, we would have just waited at the alley entrance."

He grumbled.

Su Qingling turned her head to look at him, her slender jade-like hand in her sleeve slowly raised and pinched his butt.

"Hiss..."

"Senior sister! What are you doing?"

Luo Zijun shuddered in pain.

Luo Jiaorong turned her head and said: "What's wrong?"

Luo Zijun hurriedly said: "Nothing, nothing, senior sister couldn't see the road and almost tripped."

Luo Jiaorong hurriedly said: "Follow us."

As she spoke, she slowed her pace.

Luo Zijun whispered: "Let go."

The young girl beside him not only didn't let go, but her slender jade-like fingers also gave a forceful twist.

Luo Zijun gasped in pain.

This won't do!

He immediately switched hands to hold the umbrella, and his other hand also silently and fiercely pinched her perky butt, then twisted hard.

Su Qingling seemed to tremble suddenly.

In the darkness, she bit her cherry lips with her pearly teeth, her eyes shimmering, and she gave him a faint, sidelong glance.

Luo Zijun applied force with his fingers, looking straight ahead.

The two of them fell behind like this, each pinching the other's butt, walking slowly with a strange posture all the way out of the small alley.

To be honest.

Luo Zijun felt that always being like this with his senior sister was outrageous.

But after thinking about it carefully, he inexplicably felt it was very natural, feeling that the two of them being like this didn't seem to have any sense of being scandalous or shameless.

It seemed like it was supposed to be this way.

This was even more outrageous.

Out of the alley, there were streetlights and passersby. The two of them immediately let go in tacit agreement.

Why did it feel like two people having an affair, sneaking around, unable to see the light of day?

"Senior sister, can we not do this in the future?"

Luo Zijun suggested in a low voice.

If this continues, it always feels more and more wrong.

Su Qingling seemed to think in silence for a while, then said: "Okay."

Then she added: "Then I'll pinch your chest."

Luo Zijun: "???"

After a pause, he refused to be outdone: "Then I'll also pinch your..."

He looked at her perky twin peaks, his mouth twitched, and he immediately lost his nerve: "Then let's just... just pinch butts."

Su Qingling remained expressionless, but the corners of her mouth hidden in the dark night seemed to curl up slightly.

"As you wish."

!

"???"

Luo Zijun looked at her speechlessly.

What do you mean as I wish? Is this something I decided?

He suddenly said again: "Since it's as I wish, then senior sister, from now on we'll just pinch arms, no pinching anywhere else, okay?"

If it's pinching arms, then there would be no problem, and it wouldn't seem wrong.

Su Qingling turned her head to look at him, her beautiful eyes reflecting the light under the eaves, shimmering, and she said coldly: "Fine, you pinch my arm, and I'll continue to pinch your butt."

"You're dreaming!"

Luo Zijun didn't pay any more attention to this girl.

Seeing the two of them huddled together behind her, whispering and dawdling, Luo Jiaorong could not help but prick up her ears to eavesdrop, but because of the sound of the rain, she heard nothing at all.

Feeling a bit itchy with curiosity, she turned her head and smiled, "Zijun, Ling'er, what are you two chatting about?"

Luo Zijun said, "We're discussing whether to drink soup or eat the dishes first later."

Luo Jiaorong gave him a dissatisfied glare and said, "Is there anything else that you can't let your sister know about?"

"Plenty."

Luo Zijun said with a cheeky grin.

Luo Jiaorong immediately widened her eyes: "Hey, you brat, don't think that just because Ling'er is here, I wouldn't dare to beat you."

"If Sister beats me, then I won't go."

"You..."

Li Zhengshan urged anxiously from the front: "Stop chatting, walk faster. We can talk after we get there; don't let people think we are putting on airs."

Luo Jiaorong gave her younger brother a threatening look, then gave a brilliant smile to the beautiful girl beside him, and then turned her head and quickened her pace.

The speed of this face-change was comparable to flipping a book.

The group quickened their pace and soon turned into the alley leading to Sun Mansion.

Sun Mansion was situated in the center of the southern part of the city, in an excellent location.

Of course, the price was also extremely expensive.

The group soon arrived in front of the Sun Mansion gate; unexpectedly, lanterns had already been hung, and Sun Jintang was leading Chen Shi and Sun Yan'er, along with all the maids and servants of the household, waiting at the entrance.

Seeing this grand scene, Li Zhengshan was startled.

Luo Jiaorong's expression also changed.

Seeing them, Sun Jintang hurriedly walked down the steps in person to welcome them, his face full of smiles as he said, "Zhengshan, Jiaorong, Zijun, I thought you might be offended and wouldn't come tonight."

Li Zhengshan hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "I have kept Uncle Sun waiting for a long time. Because of busy official business today, I returned home a bit late, so we are only arriving now."

His heart was full of confusion.

It was just a meal for their family; why was the whole household mobilized in such a grand manner?

Seeing this, Luo Jiaorong also felt somewhat suspicious and uneasy.

"Haha, it's nothing, it's nothing. We also just came out not long ago. Let's go, it's raining outside, let's go inside first before talking."

"Niece Jiaorong, Zijun, come, let's go in together."

Sun Jintang looked toward the back with a smile, but suddenly caught sight of the tall, beautiful girl in a plain white dress, and was momentarily stunned.

Sun Yan'er, who had also walked down the steps, was currently staring blankly at that cold and beautiful figure, and then, she unconsciously looked under her skirt.

Li Zhengshan was a bit embarrassed and hurriedly explained: "Ling'er's grandfather is away tonight, and she was preparing to eat at our house, so... so..."

He secretly complained about his wife in his heart.

How could one invite others to such a dinner? After all, the hosts only invited their family; it was so awkward now.

Sun Jintang hurriedly smiled: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Zhengshan, no need to be so formal with us. Since this Miss Ling'er is your guest, she is naturally our guest as well. Let's go, let's go inside together."

As he spoke, he led the way in front.

Chen Shi also walked down the steps with her head lowered and stood to the side.

The more Li Zhengshan looked, the more wrong it felt, and his heart became increasingly uneasy.

Luo Jiaorong felt even more baffled.

What kind of medicine were they selling in their gourd tonight?

The whole family mobilized to welcome them, and their attitude was so good?

Even the usually acerbic Chen Shi had become quiet and submissive tonight?

The couple could not figure it out at all, and followed them into the mansion.

Luo Zijun turned his head and glanced at Sun Yan'er.

At this moment, Sun Yan'er was not looking at him, but was constantly stealing glances at the cold girl beside him, occasionally frowning, occasionally biting her lip, occasionally looking dazed, and occasionally looking dejected.

The front courtyard of Sun Mansion was very large.

In the middle was a wide path paved with bluestone slabs, and on both sides were rockeries, flower beds, and two winding pebble paths.

In the flower beds, fresh flowers were blooming, vying for beauty.

On that rockery, there was even a small waterfall cascading down into a shallow pool of strange stones below.

Luo Jiaorong looked around quietly along the way, like Granny Liu entering Daguanyuan for the first time.

This was the new residence the Sun Family had moved into.

She had been here twice before, but had never entered.

Now that she saw it, she clicked her tongue in secret, her heart full of envy.

Led by Sun Jintang, the group stepped on the clean bluestone slabs, passed through the courtyard, and arrived at the living room.

In the living room, the lights were bright.

The table was already filled with brightly colored pastries, fruits, snacks, and refreshments.

The maids hurried to pour water and make tea.

After entering the room, Sun Jintang hurriedly and enthusiastically invited them to sit down, then glanced at Chen Shi.

Chen Shi hurriedly came in, her face full of smiles as she said, "Jiaorong, what would you like to eat tonight? Aunt will go to the kitchen and make it for you personally."

Luo Jiaorong was immediately somewhat flattered, and her heart became even more uneasy and flustered.

What on earth was this family trying to do?

Li Zhengshan was an impatient person; seeing this, he hurriedly stood up and bowed: "Uncle Sun, is there something else going on tonight?"

Seeing the question, Sun Jintang's face revealed a complex expression, then he let out a long sigh, stood up, first bowed deeply to the couple, and then walked to Luo Zijun and performed a salute.

Li Zhengshan and Luo Jiaorong were even more stunned and bewildered.

Only then did Sun Jintang say with a sincere face, "For this first matter, I must thank Zijun. Back when Yan'er went out of the city for a spring outing, if not for Zijun risking his life to save her, I fear she would have long since drowned."

Once these words were spoken, Li Zhengshan and his wife were both startled, their gazes turning in unison toward their younger brother.

Such a thing happened?

How did they not know? Why had this lad not told them?

Risking his life to save her?

Drowned?

Luo Zijun stood up and cupped his hands: "Uncle Sun, there is no need for such courtesy. If it had been anyone else at that time, I would still have gone to save them; besides, it was merely a small effort."

Sun Yan'er looked at him with a dazed gaze.

Sun Jintang gave a wry smile and looked at him, saying: "Zijun, risking your life to save someone is hardly a small effort. I personally went to ask about it; at the time, Yan'er had already been submerged for quite a while, and among all those people on the bank, apart from you, no one else dared to go down to save her. When she was pulled up by you, she had already stopped breathing. It was thanks to you not giving up that you finally managed to revive her... Sigh, this girl Yan'er only told me the truth today, otherwise I would not have waited until now to thank you. I had intended to bring Yan'er to visit your home personally to express my gratitude, but thinking that you were coming tonight, I had no choice but to wait outside the door..."

Speaking to this point, his voice choked up slightly: "Zijun, you also know that Uncle Sun has only this one precious daughter. If she had met with an accident, her mother and I... Sigh, you risked your life to save her, and I do not know how to repay you. I only hope that you will not blame Yan'er for her previous rudeness and willfulness; she..."

"She also regrets it..."

After finishing these words, he did not speak again and sighed inwardly.

The room suddenly fell into silence.

Sun Yan'er lowered her head, gently biting her lip; her cheeks, illuminated by the lamplight, were stained with two blushes, her small hands tightly clutching her skirt, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Drip... drip..."

The water clock in the corridor was softly counting the time.

The light rain in the courtyard was still falling pitter-patter, landing on the soil, landing on the flowers and plants, splashing up crystal-clear water droplets in the dark night.

A night breeze brushed past, and the lanterns hanging in the corridor swayed gently, making a sound.

After a long while.

Luo Zijun only said one word: "Oh."

(End of this chapter)